https://www.justice.gov/usao-e...-ladakh-urial-trophy

Press Release

Galt Big Game Hunter Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Smuggle an Endangered Ladakh Urial Trophy into the United States
Tuesday, January 7, 2025

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of California

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Jason Keith Bruce, 51, of Galt pleaded guilty today to conspiring to smuggle an endangered Ladakh urial trophy into the United States, United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

The Ladakh urial is an endangered species of wild sheep that lives in the mountains of Ladakh, a region of India and Pakistan.

According to court documents, Bruce was a recreational big game hunter and co-defendant Pir Danish Ali 45, of Pakistan, was the CEO of a hunting outfitter and guide company based in Pakistan. Bruce hunted as a client of Pir’s company, and they conspired to hunt an endangered Ladakh urial in Pakistan. Bruce and Pir then conspired to smuggle the resulting trophy into the United States in 2018 by declaring it as a different species to Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and by presenting forged documents purporting to be issued by Pakistani authorities. After the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service detained the trophy, Bruce and Pir agreed with each other to lie and did in fact lie to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Further investigation revealed that numerous other documents presented by hunters who had hunted with Pir’s company to import trophies into the United States were also forged. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has identified at least 97 trophies brought into the United States pursuant to fraudulent documents by at least 25 hunters who all hunted with Pir’s company between 2013 and 2018.

This case was the product of an investigation by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Assistant United States Attorneys Katherine T. Lydon and Whitnee Goins are prosecuting the case.

Bruce is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez on May 20, 2025. Bruce faces a maximum statutory penalty of 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

The charges against Pir are only allegations, and he is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Updated January 7, 2025

Interesting. I wonder what his sentence will be .

If I had to guess, he will be testifying against Danish .

Yes, I will also be interested to find out the sentence that is imposed.

The Lacey Act is far-reaching.

It is not clear to me how the feds expect to be able to obtain personal jurisdiction over Mr. Danish.

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Robinson:
Yes, I will also be interested to find out the sentence that is imposed.

The Lacey Act is far-reaching.

It is not clear to me how the feds expect to be able to obtain personal jurisdiction over Mr. Danish.

Well one thing is certain. Danish isn’t coming to DSC or SCI anytime soon.

Larry, I don't know if he has ever come before, but if he is well advised, he won't come again during the full period of the statute of limitations!

The Lacey Act is far-reaching, as I say, and also tricky and many say unfair.

It makes US hunters liable for knowing the hunting laws of the jurisdictions where they hunt.

As you know, I am a lawyer.

But I am sure as hell not a lawyer who knows the first bloody thing about the hunting laws of Pakistan.

What I have seen of the evidence in this case, however, leaves little doubt that both of these men knew they were breaking the law.

Bad for all hunters everywhere.

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Robinson:
Larry, I don't know if he has ever come before, but if he is well advised, he won't come again during the full period of the statute of limitations!

The Lacey Act is far-reaching, as I say, and also tricky and many say unfair.

It makes US hunters liable for knowing the hunting laws of the jurisdictions where they hunt.

As you know, I am a lawyer.

But I am sure as hell not a lawyer who knows the first bloody thing about the hunting laws of Pakistan.

What I have seen of the evidence in this case, however, leaves little doubt that both of these men knew they were breaking the law.

Bad for all hunters everywhere.

He has been many times .

I have to wonder if Danish will be tried in absentia. It has been quite a while since a warrant was issued . He has not been arrested. He would be an idiot to come to the US anytime soon.

Anyone who hunted with Danish between 2013-2018 has got to be a bit nervous..

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
I have to wonder if Danish will be tried in absentia. It has been quite a while since a warrant was issued . He has not been arrested. He would be an idiot to come to the US anytime soon.

Larry, We’ve discussed before that I think he’s confined to countries that don’t have an extradition treaty with the USA. If he goes to Great Britain, he could end up in a prison in California awaiting trial.

It’s been very quiet locally about this case but one of the clerks who works in the Eastern District court did ask around a bit and told me she got a clear impression that the U.S. Attorney on the case wanted to make an example of Jason Bruce and put him in Federal prison.

Danish has an excellent attorney, but he’s gotta be very nervous, I would think.

quote:

Originally posted by DLS:

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
I have to wonder if Danish will be tried in absentia. It has been quite a while since a warrant was issued . He has not been arrested. He would be an idiot to come to the US anytime soon.

Larry, We’ve discussed before that I think he’s confined to countries that don’t have an extradition treaty with the USA. If he goes to Great Britain, he could end up in a prison in California awaiting trial.

It’s been very quiet locally about this case but one of the clerks who works in the Eastern District court did ask around a bit and told me she got a clear impression that the U.S. Attorney on the case wanted to make an example of Jason Bruce and put him in Federal prison.

Danish has an excellent attorney, but he’s gotta be very nervous, I would think.

Agreed. There are some pretty damning statements in the press release .

I hate to say it.

But this would never have ha if it was not for trophy collectors!

Many years ago I have read several stories of SCI award recipients having broken every law posts get their trophies!

Very very sad Indeed!

This affects us hunters.

All of us.

In a very negative way.

True

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
I hate to say it.

But this would never have ha if it was not for trophy collectors!

Many years ago I have read several stories of SCI award recipients having broken every law posts get their trophies!

Very very sad Indeed!

This affects us hunters.

All of us.

In a very negative way.

Remember when the SCI President and a TX oil millionaire got busted for shooting moose from a helicopter in Kamchatka? They admitted they did it but claimed they didn’t know it was illegal. Of course, they did win the SCI door gunner award, got no significant punishment and SCI carried on as business as usual with the silly circles.

It occurs to me that with a felony conviction, Jason’s days of firearm ownership are over . That has to put a serious dent in his hunting.

He can always use camp guns.